x
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlAKgBaHQz
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Lena sat beside me in class today.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSVzy2jab6
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkOLMPbTXZ
She leaned over and asked, “You okay?”
I said, “Yeah, just tired.”11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHmm0pH5WJ
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyQSiUTwkH
She smiled like that was enough.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEj0l6GBBm
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I smiled back — the kind you practice in mirrors so nobody asks twice.
It worked. It always does.
Later, Eli dropped something in the group chat. A plan. Movies, drinks, the usual Saturday noise.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67NDNmp1Y9
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEkbKgmSmf
Everyone reacted. I gave it a thumbs up, muted the chat, and closed the app like it burned to hold it.
I don’t hate people. I just hate feeling like I don’t exist around them.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsTUuJxqng
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3tQKulV57
Even when I’m there, fully present, it still feels like I’m watching my life from behind glass.
I listen to people laugh and wonder what it feels like to actually mean it.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mIdrDBSbA
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtmXKU7rfi
I speak when I have to. I show up when it matters.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz80ZqeiZE
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDC3CHtz8C
But everything I say feels like I’m lip-syncing someone else’s life.
It’s not that I want anyone to chase me.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUDjBnKlTZ
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnOHs4B4w6
I just want someone to notice that I’m drifting.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU18d3J18A
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeAcE4HeXr
Someone to stop smiling and actually look me in the eyes and say,
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsittFpzjI“Something’s wrong. Don’t lie to me.”11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJWVqGEwn5
But no one ever does.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgYH5aweDD
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyXgiTFxws
They believe the smile. They always believe the smile.
And I don’t blame them.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mfmyMo6pF
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I’ve made it easy.
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I left my journal open on purpose this time.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMkKsZo6Rd
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Page bookmarked.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTarlX1puc
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCZ8SN5nNI
Highlighting one line I hoped someone would read:
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQ2otY3S9O“If you’re reading this, I don’t want to disappear quietly.”11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80H8iMW9Jh
I didn’t lock my room when I left.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexp9dSgOwD
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I just want to see who actually comes looking.
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Thank you for reading. If this felt real to you, follow for the issue 3— I’m just getting start
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Issue 3 drops in [like “2 days”]
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